JR Motorsports -- NNS Richmond Preview

Aric Almirola No. 88 Hellmann’s Chevrolet

“I’d say Richmond probably ranks fairly high on my favorite’s list. It’s not number one in my book, but it’s certainly up there. I have always loved short track racing, and Richmond is one of the best short tracks we get a chance to run on. It’s always cool getting a chance to run under the lights. For me, it reminds me a lot of where I came from.

“It’s great to have Hellmann’s back on the car this weekend. They’ve been a long-time supporter of JR Motorsports, and I’m excited to get to the track and work on improving our finishes from the past couple of weeks. Sure we’ll take a top-10 finish, but at the end of the day, I don’t think top-10s will be enough to win the championship. Top-fives and wins are going to be the key to clinching a championship. That’s what we need to really focus on.”

Josh Wise No. 7 NASCAR The Game 2011 Chevrolet

“Last week was a great opportunity for our No. 7 team to finally get a finish we deserved. There have been times in the past where we’ve had a top-10 car and something happened to prevent us from finishing there. But last week we were able to run up front for a time, lead some laps, and show what our team is capable of.

“Now we get a chance to race at a great track in Richmond. I think if you took a poll, most drivers really enjoy short track racing because the majority of us grew up on local short tracks. I’m pumped to head up there and hopefully build on what we showed last weekend.”

JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –

ALMIROLA COMPETING IN SHORT TRACK SHOWDOWN – This Thursday night Aric Almirola will return to his roots and climb behind the wheel of the No. 88 TaxSlayer.com late model, owned by Keith Pile, to compete in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Denny Hamlin Foundation. Tickets are $25 and are general admission only. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult. The event will air at 8 p.m. EST on SPEED on April 28.

EXCLUSIVE RICHMOND PREVIEW VIDEO – Visit www.jrmracing.com on to watch this week’s exclusive Richmond preview video. Hear firsthand how Almirola and Wise regard the nostalgia of short-track racing at night, and listen to the secrets of brake conservation with crew chiefs Tony “Pops” Eury Sr. and Tony Eury Jr.

WISE RACER– Wise has three starts at Richmond, but Friday’s Bubba Burger 250 marks his first start at the facility with JR Motorsports. His 2011 statistics in three races with the No. 7 team include one top-10 and two top-15 finishes. He also led a season-high five laps in the No. 7 Chevrolet last weekend in Nashville.

ALMIROLA AT RICHMOND – Almirola made his first career Nationwide Series start at Richmond in 2006, and has competed at Richmond two times since. Driving for JRM behind the wheel of the No. 7 Chevrolet, he earned his best finish of 11th last fall. It marked the first and only time he has driven the No. 7 Chevrolet for JRM. In Almirola’s five short track races with JRM, he’s earned one top-five and three top-10 finishes (ORP, Phoenix and Bristol).

SHORT TRACK EXCITEMENT – The “Pops” Eury-led No. 88 team finished last spring’s Richmond event in third place with driver Jamie McMurray. It was JR Motorsports’ best finish at the .75-mile oval. The organization has earned three top-five, four top-10 finishes, and led 97 laps since 2006 at Richmond.

NO. 7 SEASON STATS – The No. 7 NASCAR The Game 2011 team holds one top-five, three top-10 and five top-15 finishes this season. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick and Josh Wise have shared driving duties in the No. 7 Chevrolet throughout the year, each scoring at least a top-10 finish. Patrick earned the team’s best finish of the season when she finished fourth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, becoming the highest finishing female in any NASCAR national touring series race. The team occupies 14th position in owner points.

NO. 88 SEASON STATS – After its fourth top-10 finish of the season last weekend at Nashville, the No. 88 Hellmann’s team’s season tally comes to seven top-15 finishes. Almirola is currently ranked seventh (-7) in championship points, and the No. 88 is 11th in owner points.

DRIVER APPEARANCES – Aric Almirola and Josh Wise will both appear at the JR Nation merchandise hauler in the fan concourse area to sign autographs on Friday, April 29 from 3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EST.